Lack of emotional intelligence is one the leading cause of conflict. Researchers in EI express the view that a lack of emotional intelligence is one of the leading causes of conflict in our society. It is is difficult to argue with this logic. At the root of all conflict is a lack of sensitivity on the part of one or both parties.
Sensitivity is directly related to one’s emotional intelligence. Many employees today are familiar with work place stress and work place conflict. If you’re like many people, there have been days where you dreaded going to work, as you knew you would have to deal with a difficult co-worker, or even worse, a difficult boss. Regardless, emotional intelligence can greatly alleviate conflict when it is used.
One of the biggest things that people will encounter in their place of work is an arrogant or intimidating attitude. While this problem may sometimes come from co-workers, it may also come from managers as well. Dealing with co-workers is relatively simple, but dealing with managers can be a lot harder.
The first step in using EI to handle work place conflict is to avoid becoming upset at all costs. You can be upset, but don’t show it to the people you’re having problems with. Showing your emotions to those who are bothering you is like bleeding and falling into the water with a shark, you will give them exactly what they want. By staying calm, and remaining rational, you will make better decisions.
When you encounter conflict, whether in your personal life or your professional one, the first thing you should do is remain calm and reason with the person you’re conflicting with. Take the time to try to discuss the root cause of the problem.
There is a possibility that you may be inadvertently doing something that upsets the other party, but you may not be aware of it. This is where sensitivity comes into play. By taking the time to get to the root of the problem, you can come up with a solution that works for both of you. But if you refuse to sit down and talk with them, you will never get to the root of the problem, and things will become worse. Once you find the root of the problem, you can find a solution.
Retaining Competitive Edge
Conflict causes companies to lose their competitive edge. Conflict is an issue that must be taken seriously by company leaders and upper management. It can mean the difference between a successful company and one that will never be. If managers or co-workers are allowed to operate with an arrogant attitude, this will weaken the morale of the department, and eventually this will lead to a decline in company performance and sales.
Conflict is best thought of as being like a cancer. It starts off small and slow but eventually grows larger and more rapid. These problems must be eliminated before they are allowed to have an effect on the entire company. Yes, I know this is a lot easier than it sounds. The typical big business has at least 500 employees, and being able to manage conflict among all of them is formidable.
However, it is not necessary for company leaders to pay attention to every single employee that works in their organization. Instead, an emphasis must be placed on hiring superior managers, mangers who are versed in emotional intelligence and who are able to use this within their departments.
An effective manager will be able to mitigate problems long before they have a larger impact on the company, and employees who don’t change their ways can be terminated. When it comes to using EI to resolve conflict within organizations, managers are more important in my opinion than employees. Each manager must be responsible for their department, and everything that goes on in it.
Resolving Conflict
Managers must be vigilant in resolving conflict. If a company is comprised of emotionally intelligent managers who are able to inspire their teams and reduce or eliminate conflict, then this company will be very successful over the long term. However, if managers are employed who are incompetent, or who do not have a great deal of emotional intelligence themselves, then their departments will suffer.
Conflict among employees is a reality, there is no way around this and companies must be prepared for it. However, managers must be skilled when it comes to handling this conflict quickly and efficiently. Teams must work together harmoniously, like bees, functioning toward the greater good of the organization.
